This is a copy of my talk given at Ayia Kyriaki in the Anglican Church of Paphos on Sunday 15 December 2024. The Bible reading was Luke 3:7-18.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for Your word.
By the power of Your Holy Spirit,
May You speak to my heart,
And change my life.
In the precious name of Jesus I pray.
Amen.
Introduction
There are many ways ‘Breaking News’ has been passed on down the centuries. Historians believe the first organized messenger service dates back 4,500 years ago in Ancient Egypt when Royal Messengers were employed by the Pharaohs to hand deliver important messages, news, and laws to people – either carved in stone or written on Papyrus. They were considered to be very important people.
The first recorded account about a running messenger passing on news is in Ancient Greece when runners were used to declare wars and announced victories. The first of these, and the most famous, is Philippides who, around 2,500 years ago, ran from Marathon to Athens to announce to the Greek council that the Persians had been defeated in battle: “Joy to you, we’ve won” he said and died. The distance from Marathon to Athens is? 26 miles 385 yards – is the distance the Marathon is run at the Olympics/Sporting events.
Long before the Royal Mail was set up Town Criers walked through the streets ringing a bell calling out: “Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye!” Then, having got everyone’s attention, announced the time of town meetings and other items of interest.
Even after printed newspapers came along, you could walk the streets and hear the voice of a newspaper boy crying out, “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” Then he would shout out the day’s headlines, hoping to get the attention of those who were passing by so that they would buy a newspaper.
Today, we get the news in many different ways: the Internet, mobile phones, tablets, some get the news by watching TV or listening to the radio. And some still rely on the good old-fashioned newspaper.
- A Message Of Repentance
When you have some good news to share, timing is everything and by the time John appeared on the scene in today’s passage, Israel had been waiting for years for the coming Messiah.
The Jews were longing for a new word from God. The old prophets had spoken of a time of regeneration when God himself would come back to them. They probably had little idea what this would look like, but when this rather intense prophet appeared in the Judean wilderness telling people that the time had come, they were ready to listen. John’s method of delivery was rather unorthodox, but we are told that crowds came out to be baptised by him, so Israel was clearly ready to hear from God again.
Many of the people coming to listen to John and be baptised by him thought he was the expected Messiah. But the headline news from John was that: “Someone is coming who is greater than I… He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Remember that John was not telling people how to get to heaven, his message is not the gospel message of salvation as we know it; that was to be delivered by the one who was to come. John’s job was to get everyone ready for it – to clear the way, to encourage people to repent.
But our good news is more than that. We have the benefit of knowing what actually happened. The Messiah did come – and later in this chapter, there He is being baptised by John. And just as John promised, he turned the world upside down; things were never the same again.
- Harsh Words
John starts off with some harsh words. “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Luke’s gospel tells us that he delivers his first reproach to the crowds who came to him for baptism, but Matthew’s gospel yells us that he directed these words to the Pharisees and Sadducees.
For John to call them out in such a way would have been quite a showstopper. And look what he says to them. Who told you that you could hide from the coming judgement? The clear message for John’s audience, and ours, is that those in charge can no longer hide behind clever words and rely on their power and fame. This seems to be the case in what is going on in the CofE!
John continues: “And do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our Father.” Jewish people believed their status as descendants of Abraham, and their standing as God’s chosen people, meant they would get special treatment in terms of judgment. But John is telling them this isn’t the case. They will get no preferential treatment. John continues: “For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham”. And if God can breathe life into something like a stone, then surely, he can do the same for a world deeply in need of restoration.
People today are crying out for a different type of leadership, one that they can trust, and they don’t know which way to turn. We need to put our trust in our all-powerful God who is the ultimate King, no matter who is jockeying for power positions in the world. Events in the world may not run according to our plans, but God is working his purpose out … and He is more powerful than we can imagine.
- What Then Should We Do?
There then follows an exchange between John and some of crowd about what they should do to prepare themselves for the coming Messiah. The crowds ask him, “What then should we do?”
The tax collectors ask the same question and so do the soldiers. John’s replies aren’t any earth-shattering revelations; share with people who have less than you, don’t steal from or swindle people, don’t accuse people falsely or threaten them. He is simply advising them to be decent people and to follow the law. He doesn’t tell them or us anything they or we have not already heard or did not already know.
And maybe that’s the point. It sounds to me as if John is saying that ordinary and routine life like feeding and clothing others, tax collecting, and soldiering are spiritual practices.
The what-to-do question is unique to each one of us and the particular circumstances of our lives. There is no one particular answer and the question is never answered once and for all. It’s a question that remains with us throughout our lives. It’s the kind of question that calls us forward. It is an opening to the future. The question remains but the answers change. And if your answer today is the same as it was a year ago, five years ago, twenty years ago, you might want to take another look at your life.
- What John Didn’t Say!
John didn’t tell the soldiers to join the Salvation Army or the tax collectors to get jobs as social workers. And he didn’t tell the crowds to organize an outreach program or go on a mission trip. Instead, John sends them home to live their lives. Repentance and faithfulness happen in our everyday lives, not apart from them. We are not asked to become something we are not but to reclaim and become more fully who and what we are. To be a caring neighbour. To be a fair tax collector. To be an honourable soldier. John’s answers are simple, concrete, practical.
John doesn’t ask them to change the world but to change themselves. He doesn’t tell them to quit their jobs but to live a different life. The crowds who came to him may not be able to eliminate poverty, but they can share what they have with the cold and hungry. The tax collectors who came to him may not be able to overhaul the tax code, but they can be honest and fair. The soldiers who came to him may not be able to end the Roman occupation, but they can act with integrity and not abuse their power.
- Ordinary Life
Ordinary life is our primary spiritual practice. Ordinary life is the place we rediscover and reclaim ourselves. Look at the ordinary and everyday circumstances of your life. What do you see? What relationships do you have? Who are the people in your life?
Are you a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend? Are you a cook, a teacher, a bookkeeper? Are you a secretary, a carpenter, a salesperson, a lawyer, a medical professional? Are you a student, a politician, a police officer, a retired person, an active volunteer? What do you imagine John saying to you? What would it look like to reclaim yourself in this moment and in the current situation of your life? What then should you do?
Just as Israel was ready for John’s news, I think the world has been ready for some good news for some time and like John, we should share it with others and not be afraid of doing so – especially over these next couple of weeks. Don’t be shy in inviting family and friends to our Christmas services/events. It could be a life-changing moment for them.
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER The text contained in this sermon (except where stated) is solely owned by its author, Revd Paul A. Carr. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name.
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